Oven door mounting means



Aug. 14, 1962 OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet1 //V l/E N 7' 0R5 LeanardL. Came/m0 Millard E. Fry George C. PearceJesse L. Evans Their Attorney L. L. CARNAHAN ETAL 3,049,115 I Aug. 14,1962 L. L. CARNAHAN ETAL 3,049,115

OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE IV 7'01% Leonard 1.. Carnelian Mil/0rd E. Fry George C. Pearce 26 BY Jesse L.Evans flaw 26 F/g- Their Attorney Aug. 14, 1962 Filed Dec. 9, 1957 L. L.CARNAHAN EFAL OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

s INVENTO/PS Leonard L. Gama/ran M/l/ard E. Fry George 6. Pearce BYJesse L. Evans The/r Afforney Aug. 14, 1962 L. L. CARNAHAN ETA]. 3,0

OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVE/VTO/PSLeonard L. Gama/ran Millard E Fry George C. Pearce BY Jesse L. Evans1962 L. L. CARNAHAN ETAL 3,049,115

OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 9, 1957 m 8 mm m...wlan H Tcfihm r m aar wm V A f e wm g MMZ M LMGJ T Y B 6 m u II 9 I w s3 m :H O O 2/ w Aug. 14, 1962 L. CARNAHAN ETAL 3,049,115

OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 9, 1957 1962 L. L.CARNAHAN ETAL 3,049,115

OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 F l6 INVE NTORS Lean are L Coma/ran Millard E. Fry George C. Pearce BY JesseL.Evans Their Affirms United States Patent ICC 3,049,115 OVEN DOORMOUNTING MEANS Leonard L. Carnahan, Millard E. Fry, and George Pearce,Dayton, and Jesse L. Evans, Tipp City, Ohio, assignors to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9,1957, Ser. No. 701,395

12 Claims. (Cl. 126191) This invention relates generally to oven doorsof the drop type which are hinged along the bottom thereof and swingoutwardly and downwardly from a vertical closed position to asubstantially horizontal open position. More specifically, thisinvention relates to an oven door which may be swung downwardly to avertical out-ofthe-way position.

In the past, cleaning of ovens, either those in ranges or in the wall,has been a difiicult and disagreeable task. The manner in which foodsbecome burned on the hot surfaces of oven walls makes it difficult tokeep the structures clean. Previously, eflorts have been directed tomaking the oven door removable to facilitate access to the oveninterior. However, this has not been completely satisfactory due to thecomplicated procedures involved in removing and replacing the ovendoors. Persons using ovens equipped with removable doors are notgenerally inclined to make the mechanical adjustments necessary to thedisassembly of the door from the oven. Hence, this feature is frequentlyignored. This invention overcomes these objections and provides an ovendoor which may be placed in an out-of-the-way position without manuallyremoving any of the oven parts.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a range orwall oven with a drop type door which is supported by a novel flexiblecable arrangement.

It is also an object to provide an oven door which has a closedposition, a slightly open Broil position, a horizontal support positionand a dropped out-of-the-way position.

An additional object is the provision of a single latch mechanism toaccommodate the above positions, wherein a stop is adapted to limit thedoor travel in one position and a release manually operable, forpermitting door travel to another position. In this regard it is also anobject that such latch mechanism be adapted to reset automatically in amanner to similarly limit subsequent door travel in one position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a wall ovenincorporating the oven door of this invention;

'FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a preferred form of thisinvention wherein FIGURE 2 is a side view of the latch, with partsbroken away, showing the oven door in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a side view, with parts broken away, showing the oven doorin horizontal support position;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, with parts broken away, showing the oven doorin a dropped out-of-the-way position;

FIGURE 5 is a side view, with parts broken away, showing the oven doorin a slightly open Broil position;

FIGURE is a top view of the roller catch bracket taken along line 15-15of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 16 is a front elevation of the latch, with parts broken away,taken along line 16-16 of FIG- URE 3;

Patented Aug. 14, 1962 FIGURE 17 is a front elevation of the pulleybracket assembly taken along line 1717 of 'FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 6, 7, 8, 8a, 8b and 9 illustrate another embodiment of theteachings of this invention wherein FIG- URE 6 is a side view of thelatch, with parts broken away, showing the oven door in a droppedout-of-the-way position;

FIGURE 7 is a similar side view of the latch mechanism, with the ovendoor in a slightly open Broil position;

FIGURE 8 is a similar side view of the latch mechanism with the door inhorizontal support position;

FIGURE 8a is a fragmentary front view of the latch pulley mechanism in aclosed door position such as Fl- URE 9, with the latch pulleys partiallyseparated to pass the door cable end piece;

FIGURE 8b is a fragmentary front view of the latch pulley mechanism withthe latch pulleys fully separated to permit passage of the ball stop tothe relationship of FIG. 6;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view of the latch, with parts brokenaway, showing the oven door in a closed position, and showing also thespring motor utilized in this embodiment to retain constant pressure onthe door support cable;

FIGURES 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate another embodiment of thisinvention wherein FIG. 10 shows the latch mechanism and spring biasedcable support in side View, with parts broken away, the oven door beingin closed position;

FIGURE 11 shows a similar side view of the latch mechanism and doorsupport cable, the oven door being in a horizontal support position;

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the side panel of the oven taken along line1212 in FIGURE 11 and showing a notched aperture through which the doorsupport cable projects;

FIGURE 13 is a side view of the latch and cable structure with the ovendoor in dropped position; and

FIGURE 14 is aside view of the latch with the oven door in a slightlyopen Broil position.

In accordance with my invention as shown generally in FIG. 1, a walloven 10 having a side wall 11 and a control panel 12 is provided with anoven door 14 hingedly mounted at 16 for horizontally downwardly pivotalmovement. The oven 10 is provided with a latch mechanism embodying theconcepts of this invention which permits the oven door 14 selectively toassume a slightly open Broil position 18, a horizontal utensilsupporting position 20 and a dropped position 22. In this arrangementcables 13, 15 support the door 14 throughout its movement, disappearinginto the side wall of the oven through apertures 17 as the door isclosed. Where access without obstruction is desired to the interior ofthe oven 10, door 14 may be dropped to position 22 in accordance withprinciples embodied in the latch mechanisms described hereinafter.Although the oven door here depicted is shown in connection with a walloven 10, it is to be understood that the principles here advanced areequally applicable to such a door installed on free-standing ranges ofconventional type. For reasons of convenience, the door 14 is shown assupported at both sides by cables 13 and 15, however, it has been foundthat either one of these cables is adequate to support all loadsnormally placed on oven doors.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 2wherein a fragmentary side portion of an oven 10 is shown with the ovendoor 14 in closed, oven-sealing position. The door 14 is pivotallymounted on a pin 24 carried by a hinge bracket 26 secured as at 27 tothe oven frame 29. A striker 28 is rigidly secured to a side panel 30 ofthe oven door and adapted to project into the latch mechanism through anopening 17 when the door 14 is in closed position. Mounting the variouselements of the latch mechanism is a latch support plate 38 which issecured in any suitable manner to a side panel 39 of the oven 10. Thedoor 14 is supported in all of its positions by a cable 34 having itsone end fastened at 36 to latch support plate 38 and having its otherend fastened at 48 to side panel 30 of the oven door 14.

in order to maintain a continuous bias or tension on cable 34- and toprovide increased cable travel without increasing cable storageproblems, a novel adaptation of a movable pulley bracket assembly 42 hasbeen provided to serve these needs. The assembly 42 installed in a sidewall cavity 41 of oven 10, has a pulley 44 rotatably mounted at 46 onpulley bracket 48. The bracket 48 is biased toward the rear wall 50(FIG. 2) of the oven 18 by a spring 52 which is secured to a bracket 54aflixed to the wall 50. The other end of the spring 52 is attached to aneye-bolt 59 which, in turn, is secured to a flange 56 of the pulleybracket 48. The tensioning applied by spring 52 to the pulley bracketand cable systern has been found suificient to support the systemwithout sag. However, it is within the purview of this invention, asbest seen in FIG. 17, to provide a track 58 attached to oven wall 11 onwhich a roller 60 may travel to give the roller bracket assemblyadditional support. For further support an identical track 59 may beattached to panel 39 and a roller 57 adapted to roll thereon. Where thetracks 58, 59 are omitted, the bracket 48 mounts rubber bumpers 61, 63instead of rollers to preclude the possibility of scraping as the pulleybracket assembly 42 moves relative to the wall 11 and panel 39 of theoven (FIG. 2). The foregoing movable pulley and cable arrangement isthus seen to compact the door suspension system, cable end 48 havingtwice the travel as has pulley bracket 48'. Additional features of thisarrangement find a continuous oven door closing bias provided by spring52 and a movable abutment or flange 1 14 on the bracket 48 cooperatingwith selectively fixed abutments or flanges 86 to limit oven door travelin a horizontal support position (FIG. 3).

To urge door 14 into a snugly fitting closed position, a roller catchassembly 62 is carried on latch support plate 38. The assemblyv iscomprised of a roller catch bracket 64 pivoted on the plate 38 at 66 andhaving a finger portion 68 which mounts a bracket biasing spring 78.Carried also by the catch bracket 64 is a roller 72 made from anysuitable material, nylon being particularly satisfactory in this regard.The support plate 38 is formed with a rear flange 74 with an aperture 76adapted to accommodate one end of the finger portion 68. In thisarrangement the spring 70 is forced against the flange 74 in a manner tocause the roller catch bracket 64 to pivot counter-clockwise to effect adoor closing bias on cam surface 80 of striker 28. A stud 82 projectsfrom plate 38 to limit the rotation of bracket 64.

The function of the latch mechanism during a door closing operation maybest be understood with reference to FIG. wherein the striker 28 isshown formed with a Broil stop cam surface 78 upon which roller 72.travels as the door is forced from the Broil position shown in FIG. 5 tothe closed position of FIG. 2. As the door 14 is closed, striker 28 camsthe roller catch bracket 64 in a clockwiseposition against the bias ofspring 70. As the roller 72 moves onto the door-latched cam surface 88of the striker 28, the spring 78 again urges the roller catch bracket 64in a counter-clockwise rotation on cam surface 88 to hold the doorsnugly closed. To maintain the bracket 64 incorrect door latchingposition as aforesaid, a stud 8 2 is secured to support bracket 38 andadapted to limit therotational travel of bracket 64.

The horizontal stop and release mechanism adapted to permit the noveldrop door feature of this invention will now be clearly described,reference being had primarily to FIG. 3 wherein the door 14 is shownsupported in horizontal position by eabl 34;. The stop and releasemechanism is embodied in a stop bracket 84 having flanges 86 and 88 andpivotally mounted at 90 on latch support plate 38. A finger releaselever 92 is pivotally secured at 91 to a bracket194 which may beattached to the front panel 96 of the oven side wall. A depression 98 ismade in the panel 96 to permit insertion of a person s finger behindlever 92 for actuating the lever and a cutout 99 to recess the lever andto. allow clearance therefor as the lever is pivoted. Any movementimparted to the lever 92 is transmitted through a link 16!) to theflange 88 of the stop bracket 84. For this purpose the link 1110 isloosely secured at its one end to bellcrank portion 102 of lever 92 andat its other end similarly secured to flange 88 of the stop bracket.Thus it is seen (FIG. 4) that any downward or counter-clockwise rotationof the lever will impart an upward and counter-rotational motion to thestop bracket 84. Yieldingly retaining stop bracket 84 in either itsuppermost door release position (FIG. 4) or its lowermost horizontaldoor support? position (FIG. 3) is an over-center spring 104 secured at106 to the stop bracket 84 and by a pin 188 to support plate 38.Clockwise rotation of stop bracket 84 is limited by the projection ofpin 36 in the rotational path of bracket tail-piece 110 (FIG. 5). Apulley 187 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 109 affixed to stop bracket84 to guidably support cable 34. However, one end of shaft 109 may besecured as well to plate 38 and thus replace the pivot point for bracket84 described above as pin 98. With shaft 189 acting as the bracketpivot, the over-center spring may be relocated accordingly.

The complete and varied functioning of the elements embodied in thelatch mechanism of this invention as well as the advantages derivedtherefrom will new best be understood in connection with a completesequence of door positioning. With the door 14 closed as in FIG. 2, anoperator may grasp the door handle (not shown) and pull downwardly. Inso doing, the roller 72 will be. cammed upwardly on keeper surface 88thereby pivoting roller catch brackets 64 in a clockwise direction aboutpivot 66 against the bias of spring 78. As the door 14 continuespivotally downwardly, the end piece 33 of cable 34, in response thereto,will move outwardly from an aperture such as 17 (FIG. 1) in panel 96 ofthe oven. Thus, the linear distance travelled will be twice as far forthe end piece 33 as for the movable pulley bracket 42. This isparticularly advantageous for it permits storage of the extra cablerequired for the drop door feature without increasing the spacerequirements of the latch and cable support system. Tension ismaintained on the cable 34 by the spring 52 which resists the outwardtravel of the pulley bracket 42.

After roller 72 is over the high point of striker 28 (FiG. 5), thespring 78 biases the roller 72 in a counterclockwise direction untilbracket 64 rests on stud 82 with the roller 72 hearing against camsurface 78 of the keeper. With the door 14. in this position, the doorwill remain slightly ajar in what is commonly known as a Broil position.The opposed biasing effects of springs 70 and 52 will neutralize eachother and maintain the door in this position.

The door may now be pivoted downwardly to the horizontal position shownin FIG. 3. In so doing, pulley bracket 48 will move toward the front ofthe oven to accommodate the extension of the cable 34. The door will bestopped in the horizontal position when the flange portion 86 of stopbracket 84 meets the flange portion 114 of the movable bracket 48 andthereby held at this position. It should be noted that the mosteffective support for door 14 requires that cable 34 be formed of amaterial which will not stretch substantially.

To release the door 14 for downward pivotal movement from a horizontalto an out-of-the-way position (FIG. 4), the lever 92 is pulledoutwardly, while the tension on cable 34 is released simultaneously byslightly lifting door 14. The flanges 86 on bracket 84 through link 100are thus pivoted out of blocking engagement with flanges 114 on bracket48. In this relationship the door may then continue its pivotal movementdownwardly, bracket 48 moving toward the front of the oven an additionalamount to the position shown in FIG. 4. The cutout portion 116 of stopbracket 84 accommodates this movement. The door has now been moved froma position which obstructs one seeking access to the oven to a locationwhich is out of the way. Access is now readily obtained to the interiorof the oven for cleaning and any other process requiring close attentionto the interior oven walls.

Upon completion of any oven procedure requiring the door 14 to be placedin its vertically downwardly disposed position, the door may be returnedto its oven closing position, thereby automatically resetting theovercenter spring biased stop bracket 84 and release lever 92 to therelationship depicted in FIG. 2. This is effected by way of a cammingaction imparted to the flange 88 of the pivotally raised stop bracket 84(FIG. 4) by striker 28 as oven door '14 is closed. Since the releaselever 92 is interconnected by link with stop bracket 84, this lever willalso return to a position whereby the latch is reset to prevent to theoven door from moving downwardly beyond its horizonital supportposition.

A second embodiment including the novel concepts of this invention isfully described in connection with FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Reference is nowhad in particular to FIG. 9 wherein an oven 10 is closed by a drop typedoor 14 pivotally mounted on a hinge 118. The door is supported in itspivotal movement by a cable 34 secured at one end in an end piece 121pivotally mounted on a pin 129 to the side panel 30 of the door 14, andat the other end to a hook 122. The hook 122 is adapted to grip a link124 of a spring motor 126. The spring, which continuously biases thedoor 14 in a closing direction, may be of any conventional type,however, a spring which provides a constant rate of pull is preferred.The spring 126 is mounted within a cavity such a 41 describedhereinbefore in a side wall of oven 10 on a bracket 128 affixed to thepanel 39 near the rear of the oven and located vertically in a manner toplace the spring 126 and the latch mechanism shown generally at 132. Atone point along the cable a ball stop 130 is attached, the function ofwhich will be more fully described hereinafter.

A support plate 134 bolted at 136 to the side panel 39 of an oven 10carries a cable support pulley 138 rotatably mounted on a pin 140secured to the plate 39. The pulley 138 is in line with the cable 34 andprovides a means for guiding the cable as it is pulled outwardly withthe door 14. As best seen in FIGS. 8a, 8b, a keeper or latch pulley 142is rotatably mounted on a pin 144 which rides in a slot 146 formed inthe support plate 134. The slot 146 allows the latch pulley 142 alimited amount of vertical movement. A continuous bias of the pulley 142in a downward direction is eifected through a plate 148 having dependingforked legs 149 which bear on top of the pulley shaft 144 and are biaseddownwardly by spring 150. To retain the latch in proper operatingrelationship, the spring 150 is slidingly placed on rod 152 secured atits one end to plate 148 and adapted for limited vertical reciprocationthrough a port 154 in bracket 156.

A novel and fimctional configuration has been incorporated in the cableattached end piece 121 comprising a cylindrical portion 125 and a flatfin portion 123 integrally formed therewith. The cylindrical portion 125is adapted to ride within the groove of pulley 138 and is tapered at 129(FIG. 8) to form a smooth union where the end piece joins the cabl 34.Likewise, the top of fin 123 rides in the groove of pulley 142 and istapered along its trailing edge to form a cam surface 127. In additionto guiding the cable 34 between the pulleys 138 and 142, the end piece121 provides the cam surface 127 for locating the door 14 in Broilposition (FIG. 7).

A two-position release lever'158 is pivoted to the support plate 134 ona pin 160 and is formed with a flange 162 having an end portion 164projecting through an aperture 166 in a front panel 96 of the oven sidewall. The lever 158 has its flange portion 162 formed with two seats 168and 170, the first, an unlatched position facilitating the release ofthe oven door to a position below horizontal, and the second, a latchedposition limiting the pivotal movement of the door at the horizontalposition, The seat 168 is formed a sufiicient distance from pin 160 topermit the pulley shaft 144 to rise to the top of slot 146 against thedownward bias of spring whenever ball stop 130 is pulled between thepulleys 138 and 142 as the door is lowered to its out-of-the-wayposition (FIG. 8b). The seat 170 is a greater distance from the pin 169and therefore limits the upward travel of pulley shaft 144 to a pointapproximately half-way up the slot 146 (FIG. 8a), pulley travel belowthis point receiving a downward bias by the action of spring 150. Withthe pulley shaft 144 at this half-way point (FIG. 8a) a solid link isformed between the pivot pin and the pulley 142, thus preventing asufficient separation of the pulleys 133 and 142 to pass the ball 130.In the position of FIG. 6 the coils of spring 150 are seen to besufiiciently parted to yield an amount necessary to pass the ball stop130 as in FIG. 8b. Similarly in FIG. 7, the spring 150 is disposed topass the fin 123 (FIG. 8a) of the end piece 121 as the door 14 is moved.Similarly in FIG. 7, the spring 150 is disposed from the Broil positionof FIG. 7 to the closed position of FIG. 9.

The operation of door 14 will best be understood with reference to asequence of operations proceeding through a closed position, a Broilposition, a horizontal support position and a dropped out-of-the-wayposition. In the closed position of FIG. 9 door 14 is urged continuouslyinto a tight oven sealing condition by the spring biased pull of cable34 on end piece 121. In this position the latch release lever 158 hasits flange portion 170 forcing the spring 150 into a rigidly coiledrelationship, thereby urging pulley 142 downwardly into a reasonablysnug engagement with end piece 121. As the door 14 is opened, the topportion 123 of end piece 121 rides in the groove of pulley 142 (FIG.8a). The bottom section 125 of end piece 121, in turn, rides in thegroove of pulley 138. In response to door pivotal motion outwardly, thecam surface 127 of end piece 121 reaches a point adjacent the pulley 142and the pulley 142 is biased downwardly by spring 150 to a position onthe top of cable attachment section 129. In this relationship door 14 isnow in a Broil stop position. Tension continues on the cable 34 (FIG. 7)but the resistance of pulley 142 against the Broil stop cam surface 127is sufficient to offset the cable tension and the door is retained in aslightly open position. It should be noted that with the pulley 142 inits lowermost position and the door released lever 158 in its latchedposition, the spring coils are still slightly separated. This allows thedoor 14 to be closed from its Broil position-pressure merely beingexerted on door 14 to cause Broil stop cam surface 127 to raise thepulley 142 to a position which will permit complete door closure.

As the door 14 is moved from closed to a horizontal support position(FIG. 8) the cable 34 continues to support the door in its movement. Toeffect a rigid stop for the door 14 in its horizontal position the ballstop 130, previously described, is utilized. Since the ball stop 130 isattached to the cable 34 it travels therewith until it reaches aposition adjacent the pulleys 138 and 142. At this point the ball seeksto pass through the pulleys but is restrained thereby to elfect a securesupport position for the door 14. As aforesaid, pulley 138 is secured tosupport bracket 134, thus any yielding to pass the ball 130 must beprovided through the vertical movement of pulley 142. To eifect thisoperation release lever 158 has its finger portion 164 inwardly disposedagainst the spring 150. In this relationship a sufficient pressure isplaced on the spring 150' to keep the coils thereof reasonably tightlytogether. In this fashion pulley 142 is permitted =a suflicient rise topass the large portion of the end piece 121 but not enought to pass ball130 which is retained on the inboard side of the rollers 138, 142. Thus,door 14 is securely held and adequately supported to retain any normalweights placed thereon during kitchen operation.

It is frequently desirable to gain access to the interior of the oven 10but door 14, in its horizontally disposed position, presents an obstacleto this desire. Therefore, this embodiment :also contemplates therelease of the door 14 from its horizontal position and means wherebythe door can be dropped to an out-of-the-way position. FIGS. 6 and 8 arehelpful in presenting latch functioning directed to this end. The door14 is raised slightly from its horizontal position to relieve some ofthe tension on spring 150 imposed by the bias of ball 130. The fingerportion 164 of release lever 158 is grasped and pulled outwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 6. Spring 150 is thus permitted to move slightlyupwardly and thereby release its rigid backing of pulley 142. The ballstop 130 is now free to move through the pulleys 142 and 138 to aposition on the outside of the oven. In this manner, an additionalamount of cable 34 is available to permit the door 1 4 to pivotdownwardly to its out-of-the-way position.

At the conclusion of any operations involving close scrutiny of theinterior of the oven, the door 14 is raised to its closed position. Thisautomatically resets the latch mechanism for all normal operationsincluding closed, Broil and horizontal positions. The release lever 158is automatically reset by the closing action of the door 14. As the dooris being closed, the inside edge 174 of the door 14 abuts the extendedfinger portion 164 of release lever 158 as it is shown in FIG. 6.Release lever 158 is thus forced to pivot inwardly in acounter-clockwise rotation to the horizontal door latched position ofFIG. 8. In so doing, the spring retainer disc 172 is repositioned fromits location on flange 168 to flange 170, thus tightening the tension onthe spring. 'Of course, the release lever 158 may be reset by hand toeifect the same operating principles.

A third embodiment of the novel concept advanced in this invention isseen in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Referring generally to FIG. 10, anoven 10 is closed by a door 14 pivotally mounted on a combination hingeand roller catch support bracket 17 6. The bracket 176 is sup ported atthe front of and near the bottom of the side panel 39 of oven 10. Acatch roller 177 is rotatably carried on a pin 181 extending between andsecured to the bracket 176 and -a parallel bracket 179 spaced from thefirst said bracket. At the top portion of the side panel 39 a bulkhead178 serves to support the cable pulley and tensioning means. A pulley180 is pivotally carried by a pulley bracket 182 secured to the bulkhead178 near the front of the oven. At the rear of the oven a spring bracket184 is similarly secured to the bulkhead 178 and has a ported flangeportion 186 for retaining one end of a cable tensioning spring 188. Acable 190 is 'fitted at one end with a cable stop 192 adapted to receivethe other end' of the tensioning spring 188. Attached to the bulkheadadjacent the pulley 180' is a catch bracket 194 having an aperture'196through which the cable '190 is caused to pass. The bracket 194cooperates with the cable stop 192 .and provides the means whereby thecable travel is limited, the flange surface 198 abutting surface 200 ofbracket 194 to effect this stop.

With reference now to FIG. 11,. the side panel of oven door 14 is shownmounting a latch support bracket 202. Carried on, the bracket 202 andpivotally mounted on a pin 204 is a latch plate 206. The latch plate isformed with a hook 208 adapted for attachment of a U- shaped bracket andpin arrangement 210 securely fastened to the cable 190. The latch plateis formed with a Broil 8 stop cam surface 212 and a curved notch latchportion 214. At one end of the latch plate 266 a flange 216 is formed tocarry a latch biasing band spring 218 secured thereto at 220. In orderto place the spring 218 in latch actuating position, a bracket 222 isbolted to the side of latch support bracket 202 and formed with a hookedflanged portion 224 which engages one end of the spring 218. In thisrelationship it may thus be seen that latch plate 206 is adapted forrocking movement about pin 204, a latch plate flange 226 abuttingsupport bracket 202 to limit rotation in one direction and theresiliency of band spring 218 urging the latch plate to rotate in theopposite direction. The ball stop 228 is rigidly attached to the cable196 at a point which will permit its enagement in a notch 230 along oneside of an aperture 232 through which the cable 199 issues to supportthe door 14 (FIG. 12). The utilization of this ball stop 228inconnection with the door release feature of this invention will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

Various facets of this particular embodiment will now be explained inconnection with a sequence of door operations including a closedposition, a Broil position, a horizontal support position and a droppedo-ut-of the-way position. With reference to FIG. 10,, the oven door 14is urged into a snug fit with oven 10 by the combined biasing effects ofthe spring 188 maintaining tension on cable 196 and the band spring 218urging the latch plate 286 into engagement with roller catch 177. Inthis regard the cam surface of latch plate notch 214 aids in maintaininga tight seal between the juxtaposed surfaces of door 14 and oven 19.

As the door 14 is pulled outwardly and downwardly, the latch plate 286is caused to pivot slightly in a clockwise direction as the hump portion215 of the latch plate passes under the roller 177. After the door opensslightly, the bias of band spring 218 returns the latch plate 296 to itsnormal position perpendicular to the surface of the oven door 14. Inthis relationship (FIG. 14) a Broil stop position is attained with thecombined tensioning of springs 218 and 18S sufiicient to retain latchplate 206 in a position adjacent the roller catch 177 and thus the door14 in a slightly open position.

When it is desired to open the door 14 to a position which willaccommodate the support of cooking utensils or other objects, thepivotal motion of the door 14 is continued to the relationship shown inFIG. 11. As the door moves from a vertically upward to a horizontalposition, the cable stop 192 moves from a position adjacent the rear ofthe oven 18 to a position abutting stop bracket 194. In response to thisoperation, the spring 188 is expanded and thereby imposes an opposingbias to this travel; At the point where cable stop 198 abuts the bracket194 the oven door 14 is securely retained in its horizontal position. Asthe end section 210 of the cable follows the door outwardly, the cablerides over pulley 188 in the top of the oven and roller catch pulley 177adjacent the aperture 232. The ball stop 228 is sized in a manner thatit will not throw the cable from the groove of pulley 177 and will passthrough the aperture 232. However, the ball stop 228 must be larger thanthe notch 230 for the purpose next described.

Where it is desired to release the door 14 for downward pivotal movementthe cable 19ft is forced sidewardly into the notch 23 as suggested inFIG. 12. With the cable in this position the oven door 14 is liftedslightly to permit ball stop 228 to bear snugly against the frontsurface of notch 230. The ball stop'228 will remain engaged in the notch231} due to the tension retained on the cable by spring 188. The endpiece 219 is then removed manually from the hook portion 288 of thelatch plate 2% and the oven door 14 lowered to its out-of-thewayposition, as best seen in FIG. 13. The end of the cable 190 on theoutboard side of the ball stop 228 will hang loosely at the side ofthe'oven 141. When it is desired to place the oven door again inoperative position,

the door is raised to a position wherein cable end piece 210 may againengage the hook 208 of the latch plate. The door 210 is allowed to movedownwardly so that the ball stop 228 may be pulled fiom its position inthe notch 230. The oven door and latch mechanism is now in normaloperative condition and the oven may be closed as per previouslydescribed operations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adapted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination a range having an oven, a door for said oven, meansincluding an unobstructing hinge for supporting said door for pivotalmovement throughout substantially 180 while said door is connected tosaid hinge, and means connected to said door throughout all of saidpivotal movement for retaining said door in a closed position, a partlyopen broil position, a support position and an out of the way position.

2. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; astriker on said door; means for supporting said door for pivotalmovement throughout substantially 180 including a flexible bondconnected to said door and carrying an enlarged portion; means forselectively latching said door comprising a support plate, a springbiased keeper pivotally mounted on said plate for engaging said strikerin a first position to close said door and in a second position to holdsaid door slightly open, a stop bracket pivotally mounted on said platefor cooperating with said enlarged portion to limit the pivotal movementof said door at a third position, and a release lever connected to saidstop bracket to prevent said bracket from cooperating with said enlargedportion thereby to release said door for pivotal movement beyond saidthird position; said stop bracket having a portion in the path of saidstriker when said door is closed, thereby to adapt said stop bracket forautomatic return to a cooperating relationship with said enlargedportion.

3. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; meansfor unobstructingly supporting said door for pivotal movement throughoutsubstantially 180 while said door is connected to said frame andincluding a flexible bond connected to said door and having an enlargedportion positioned thereon; means for latching said door comprising aplate on said frame having a slot therein, a bond support pulleyrotatably mounted on said plate, a rotatable latch pulley relativelyslidably mounted adjacent said bond support pulley in said slot in saidplate to form with said bond support pulley a restricted passage forpassing the bond and selectively restricting the enlarged portion, aspring for yieldingly biasing said latch pulley in said slot toward saidbond support pulley, and means cooperating with said spring toselectively limit the movement of said latch pulley in said slot thereby to retain said enlarged portion when said door is in a horizontalposition.

4. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; astriker on said door; means for supporting said door for pivotalmovement throughout substantially 180 including a flexible bondconnected to said door and carrying an enlarged portion; means forselectively latching said door comprising a support plate, a springbiased keeper pivotally mounted on said plate substantially coplanarwith said striker for engaging said striker in a first position to closesaid door and in a second position to hold said door slightly open, astop bracket pivotally mounted on said plate substantially coplanar 5.In combination, an oven having a frame member; a door member on saidframe member; a striker on one of said members; means for supportingsaid door for pivotal movement throughout substantially including aflexible bond connected to said door and carrying an enlarged portion;means for selectively latching said door comprising a support plate onthe other of said members, a spring biased keeper mounted on said platesubstantially coplanar with said striker for engaging said striker in afirst position to close said door and in a second position to hold saiddoor slightly open, a stop bracket mounted on said plate substantiallycoplanar with said enlarged portion and having a stop portion forcooperating with said enlarged portion to limit the pivotal movement ofsaid door at a third position, and a release lever connected to saidstop bracket to pivot said stop portion out of cooperating relationshipwith said enlarged portion thereby to release said door for pivotalmovement beyond said third position.

6. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; meansfor supporting said door for pivotal movement throughout substantially180 including a flexible bond connected to said door and carrying anenlarged portion; means for selectively latching said door comprising asupport plate, a spring biased keeper mounted on said plate coplanarwith a portion of said door for cooperating with said door portion in afirst position to close said door and in a second position to hold saiddoor slightly open, a stop bracket mounted on said plate substantiallycoplanar with said enlarged portion and having a stop portion forcooperating with said enlarged portion to limit the pivotal movement ofsaid door at a third position, and a release lever connected to saidstop bracket to pivot said stop portion out of cooperating relationshipwith said enlarged portion thereby to release said door for pivotalmovement beyond said third position.

7. In combination, an oven having a frame, a door on said frame,striking means on said door, means for mounting said door for pivotalmovement throughout substantially 180 while said door is connected tosaid frame and including a flexible bond connected to said door andretractable within said frame and having an enlarged portion, means onsaid frame for tensioning said bond, and means for selectively latchingsaid door comprising, means substantially coplanar with said strikingmeans for engaging said striking means in a first position when saiddoor is closed and in a second position to hold said door slightly open,means substantially coplanar with said enlarged portion for limiting thepivotal movement of said door in a third position by selectivelyblocking said enlarged portion, and means for rendering said limitingmeans ineffective.

8. In combination; a frame defining an oven compartment and a controlcompartment overlying said oven compartment and having a side wall and afront Wall; said front wall defining an access opening to said ovencompartment, port means laterally adjacent to said access opening, and arecess having a reiease port above said port means; a door on said frontwall; hinge means for mounting said door for pivotal movement throughoutsubstantially 180 from a raised position to a dropped posi tion whilesaid door is connected to said front wall and including a flexible bondconnected at one end to said door and retractable through said portmeans; a coil spring on said frame for tensioning said bond andextending parallel to said side Wall behind and generally in line withsaid port means; and means for selectively latching said doorcomprising, a support bracket secured to said frame behind and in linewith said port means and supporting the other end of said flexible bond,a U-shaped stop bracket pivotally mounted on said support bracket andhaving a top flange from each side of which depends a stop flange, apulley between said stop flanges for guiding said bond, a release leverfor pivoting said stop racket, said release lever secured to said topflange and extending to said release port to receive a manually operableactuator, said actuator adapted to be positioned in said recess whensaid door is in said raised position and outside of said recess whensaid door is in said dropped position, and a movable pulley bracketassembly having a pair of abutment flanges substantially coplanarrespectively with said stop flanges and joined along one edge thereof toform a U-shaped pulley bracket, a pulley between said abutment flange'sfor receiving a portion of said flexible bond intermediate said ends andmeans for connecting said pulley bracket to said coil spring at saidjointure of said abutment flanges, whereby said stop flanges engage saidabutment flanges when said actuator is in said recess to limit thepivotal movement of said door in an intermediate position, and wherebysaid stop flanges disengage said abutment flanges when said actuator isoperated out of said recess to facilitate pivotal movement of said doorto its dropped position.

9. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; astriker on said door; means for supporting said door for pivotalmovement throughout substantially 180 including a flexible bondconnected to said door and carrying an enlarged portion; means forselectively latching said door comprising a support plate, keeper meansmounted on said plate substantially coplanar with said striker forengaging said striker in a first position to close said door and in asecond position to hold said door slightly open, a stop bracketpivotally mounted on said plate and having a stop portion substantiallycoplanar with said enlarged portion for cooperating with said enlargedportion to limit the pivotal movement of said door at a third position,and a release lever connected to said stop bracket to pivot said stopportion out of cooperating relationship with said enlarged portionthereby to release said door for pivotal movement beyond said thirdposition; said stop bracket having means actuated by said striker toautomatically return said stop portion to a cooperating relationshipwith said enlarged portion.

10. In combination, an oven having a frame; a door on said frame; meansfor unobstructingly supporting said door for pivotal movement throughoutsubstantially 180 while said door is connected to said frame andincluding a flexible bond having one end connected to said doorthroughout all of said pivotal movement and its other end connected tosaid frame adjacent said door, bracket means resiliently connected tosaid frame remote from said door and having a pulley for receiving aportion of said bond between the ends thereof; means for latching saiddoor comprising a striker on said door and a keeper on said frame; arestraining means on said frame cooperating with said bracket means forlimiting the pivotal movement of said door at a predetermined position,and means including a release lever on said frame to release saidrestraining means from engaging said bracket means to permit pivotalmovement of said door beyond said predetermined position.

11. In combination, an oven having a frame, said frame having a frontwall defining an opening to said oven, a door on said frame forselectively covering said front wall, a striker pivotally mounted onsaid door, means for mounting said door for pivotal movement throughoutsubstantially including a flexible bond connected to said striker andcarrying an enlarged portion, means for tensioning said bond, and meansfor selectively latching said door comprising a support means, a rolleron said support means adjacent said flexible bond, yielding means forurging said striker and said roller into engagement in a first positionto close said door and in a second position to hold said door slightlyopen, a latch flange pivotally mounted on said support means forcooperating with said enlarged portion to limit the pivotal movement ofsaid door at a third position, and means for releasing the limitingeffect resulting from the cooperation of said enlarged portion and saidlatch flange thereby to release said door for pivotal movement beyondsaid third position, said releasing means including a release leveraccessibly positioned on said front wall and connected to said latchflange.

12. In combination, an oven having a frame, said frame having a frontwall defining an opening to said oven, a door on said frame forselectively covering said front wall, a striker pivotally mounted onsaid door, means for mounting said door for pivotal movement throughoutsubstantially 180 including a flexible bond connected to said strikerand carrying an enlarged portion, means for tensioning said bond, andmeans. for selectively latching said door comprising a support means, aroller on said support means adjacent said flexible bond, yielding meansfor urging said striker and said roller into engagement in a firstposition to close said door and in 'a second position to hold said doorslightly open, a latch flange pivotally mounted on said support meansfor cooperating with said enlarged portion to limit the pivotal movementof said door at a third position, and means for releasing the limitingeffect resulting from the cooperation of said enlarged portion and saidlatch flange thereby to release said door for pivotal movement beyondsaid third position, said releasing means being adapted to automaticallyreestablish the limiting effect resulting from the cooperation of saidenlarged portion and said latch flange when said door is returned tosaid first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,669,802 Armstrong May 23, 1928 1,855,759 Hofierbert Apr. 26, 19322,725,052 Barnett Nov. 29, 1955 2,823,661 Grannan- Feb. 18, 19582,833,270 Brown et a1. May 6, 1958

